U.S. patent application number 15/800150 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-03 for wind deflector module.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Riccardo Bauer, Tobias Posch, Sebastian Weber.
Application Number | 20180118282 15/800150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61912440 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180118282 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Posch; Tobias ; et
al. |
May 3, 2018 |
WIND DEFLECTOR MODULE
Abstract
A wind deflector module for a motor vehicle includes an
aerodynamic component which is arranged so as to be movable on the
outside of the motor vehicle, a drive unit configured to be movable
in a Z direction of the motor vehicle and being mechanically
connected to the aerodynamic component in order to move the
aerodynamic component, and a mounting bracket mechanically
connected to the drive unit in order to mount the drive unit. The
mounting bracket is mounted on a support frame of the motor vehicle
so as to be adjustable with respect to a Y and/or an X direction of
the motor vehicle.
Inventors: |
Posch; Tobias; (Wimsheim,
DE) ; Weber; Sebastian; (Esslingen, DE) ;
Bauer; Riccardo; (Owen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft |
Stuttgart |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
61912440 |
Appl. No.: |
15/800150 |
Filed: |
November 1, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/82 20130101;
B62D 35/00 20130101; B62D 37/02 20130101; B62D 35/007 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62D 35/00 20060101
B62D035/00; B62D 37/02 20060101 B62D037/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 3, 2016 |
DE |
10 2016 120 940.6 |
Claims
1. A wind deflector module for a motor vehicle, comprising: an
aerodynamic component which is arranged so as to be movable on the
outside of the motor vehicle; a drive unit configured to be movable
in a Z direction of the motor vehicle and being mechanically
connected to the aerodynamic component in order to move the
aerodynamic component; and a mounting bracket mechanically
connected to the drive unit in order to mount the drive unit;
wherein the mounting bracket is mounted on a support frame of the
motor vehicle so as to be adjustable with respect to a Y and/or an
X direction of the motor vehicle.
2. The wind deflector module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
mounting bracket is secured to a reference hole in the support
frame by a bolt.
3. The wind deflector module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
mounting bracket is a cast mounting bracket.
4. The wind deflector module as claimed in claim 1, wherein an
angle of the mounting bracket in the X direction and/or an angle
about a Y axis can be set.
5. The wind deflector module as claimed in claim 2, wherein a
reference of the bolt in the reference hole is formed relative to a
joint-forming region of the vehicle body structure.
6. The wind deflector module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
wind deflector module has a drive unit at each of two opposite
positions.
7. The wind deflector module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
mounting bracket has an opening through which the drive unit is
guided.
8. A motor vehicle having a wind deflector module as claimed in
claim 1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit to German Patent Application
No. DE 10 2016 120 940.6, filed Nov. 3, 2016, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a wind deflector module, in
particular a rear spoiler or rear wing for a motor vehicle
comprising an aerodynamic component, such as, for example, a
spoiler module or wing module which is arranged so as to be movable
on the outside of the motor vehicle. The present invention further
relates to a motor vehicle having such an aerodynamic component,
for example a rear spoiler.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In the automotive industry, in particular in the development
of sports cars, it is generally known to provide rear spoilers such
that they can be adjusted or extended in the X and Z direction by
means of a drive. Such a rear spoiler module for a passenger car is
known for example from DE 10 2010 000 634 A1. Here, the drive unit
is usually secured fixedly to the bodyshell on the chassis of the
motor vehicle, it being the case here that no fixed or only limited
reference to the outer panel or to the outer skin of the motor
vehicle is established. A disadvantage with this installation
variant is that dimensional deviations which occur, in particular
in the case of different vehicle types, must be compensated for
with a high degree of effort, the drive unit of the rear spoiler
thus having to be installed with significant fluctuations during
final assembly. The resultant dimensional scatter of the assembly
position of the rear spoiler would thus lead to considerable rework
on the produced vehicle.
SUMMARY
[0004] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a wind
deflector module for a motor vehicle. The wind deflector module
includes an aerodynamic component which is arranged so as to be
movable on the outside of the motor vehicle, a drive unit
configured to be movable in a Z direction of the motor vehicle and
being mechanically connected to the aerodynamic component in order
to move the aerodynamic component, and a mounting bracket
mechanically connected to the drive unit in order to mount the
drive unit. The mounting bracket is mounted on a support frame of
the motor vehicle so as to be adjustable with respect to a Y and/or
an X direction of the motor vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention will be described in even greater
detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not
limited to the exemplary embodiments. All features described and/or
illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different
combinations in embodiments of the invention. The features and
advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will
become apparent by reading the following detailed description with
reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the
following:
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle in a rear view having a wind
deflector module;
[0007] FIG. 2 shows the wind deflector module of FIG. 1 with two
drive units in a schematic sectional view;
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a mounting bracket for mounting the drive unit
of the wind deflector module of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0009] FIG. 4 shows the mounting bracket of FIG. 3 in a schematic
rear view; and
[0010] FIG. 5 shows the drive unit of the wind deflector module in
an installed state in the mounting bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention provide wind deflector
modules that reduce the assembly effort for readjustment.
[0012] Embodiments of the present invention provide wind deflector
modules that include a drive unit which is movable in a Z direction
and is mechanically connected to an aerodynamic component in order
to move the aerodynamic component, and a mounting bracket which is
mechanically connected to the drive unit in order to mount the
drive unit. Embodiments of the present invention further provide
wind deflector modules wherein the mounting bracket is mounted on a
support frame of the motor vehicle so as to be adjustable with
respect to a Y and/or X direction of the motor vehicle.
[0013] By virtue of the fact that the mounting unit is mounted
adjustably on a support frame of the motor vehicle, the subsequent
adjustment of the wind deflector module is possible with reduced
effort, and simultaneously by virtue of the fact that the wind
deflector module is mounted on the support frame of the motor
vehicle, fluctuations in the outer skin joints have no influence on
the position of the aerodynamic component, with the result that the
rework quota is further reduced.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting
bracket is secured to a reference hole in the support frame by
means of a bolt. Consequently, the mounting unit can be arranged
with respect to the Y and/or X direction on the support frame of
the motor vehicle with technically little effort.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the mounting bracket is formed by
a cast mounting bracket. Consequently, the technical mounting
effort and at the same time the module weight can be reduced.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, an angle of the mounting bracket
in the X direction and/or an angle about a Y axis can be set.
Consequently, X-Y positioning is possible with little effort.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference of
the bolt in the reference hole is formed relative to a
joint-forming region of the vehicle body structure. Consequently,
mechanical positioning in the X and Y direction can be ensured with
technically little effort.
[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, the wind deflector module
has a drive unit at each of two opposite positions. Consequently,
reliable and symmetrical movement of the aerodynamic component on
the motor vehicle is possible.
[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the mounting bracket has
an opening through which the drive unit is guided. Consequently,
precise movement of the drive unit in the Z direction is
possible.
[0020] As mentioned above, the special mounting of the mounting
bracket on the support frame of the motor vehicle makes it possible
to considerably reduce the rework quota since the aerodynamic
component is mechanically mounted separately from the outer skin
and is movable or adjustable in the X and/or Y direction.
Consequently, readjustment is either not necessary or else possible
with technically little effort.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a motor vehicle which is
generally designated by 10. The motor vehicle 10 has a support
frame 12 to which there is secured an outer skin 14 having a
joint-forming region of the vehicle body structure. The vehicle
body structure forms a visible outer skin of the motor vehicle 10
that is formed by joint-forming outer panels.
[0022] The rear region of the motor vehicle 10 illustrated in FIG.
1 further has a wind deflector module 16 in the form of a rear
spoiler for the motor vehicle 10, the wind deflector module 16
being mounted or arranged so as to be movable relative to the motor
vehicle in a Z direction 18.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional plan view of a rear
region of the motor vehicle 10 with the wind deflector module 16
and two drive units 20', 20'', the drive units 20', 20'' being
secured to opposite ends of the wind deflector module 16 and each
being mechanically connected to or mounted with a mounting bracket
22', 22''. The mounting brackets 22 are each mounted on the support
frame 12, that is to say on the non-joint-forming region of the
motor vehicle body structure, so as to be mechanically movable both
in the X and in the Y direction, specifically by means of a
referencing hole 26 and a referencing bolt 28 as explained in more
detail hereinbelow. As a result, subsequent X-Y positioning can
take place.
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a detail view of the mounting bracket 22
and a guide module 24 for guiding the drive unit 20'. The mounting
bracket 22' is mounted by means of a referencing hole 26', through
which a referencing bolt 28' is guided. The referencing bolt 28' in
the referencing hole 26' serves for the X-Y positioning of the
mounting bracket 22' and the guide module 24' for guiding the drive
unit 20. The drive unit 20 is guided in the Z direction through an
opening 30 in the guide module 24', with the result that precise
guiding of the wind deflector module 16 in the Z direction is
possible and readjustment is not necessary or the effort required
for readjustment is considerably reduced.
[0025] Readjustment is effected by individual measurement relative
to the joint-forming region 14 of the vehicle body. The
adjustability of the mounting bracket 22 by means of the
referencing bolts 28 in the referencing hole 26 serves for this
purpose.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic rear view of the motor
vehicle 10 with the mounting bracket 22' and the guide module 24'.
The guide module 24' is mounted by means of the referencing bolt
28' on the mounting bracket 22' in the X and Y direction, which
mounting bracket is fastened to the support frame 12.
[0027] FIG. 5 substantially shows the drive unit 20' in a schematic
rear view of the motor vehicle 10. A housing of the drive unit 20'
is secured to the guide module 24', with the result that the drive
unit is connected in the Z direction to the wind deflector module
16 through the opening 30'. The guide module 24' is mechanically
connected in the X and Y direction to the mounting bracket 22' via
the referencing bolt 28', with the result that a referencing
mounting on the support frame 12 is possible. The mounting bracket
22 is mounted on the support frame 12 so that it can be set at an
angle in the X direction about the axis and/or Y direction in order
to allow subsequent positioning of the drive unit 20'.
[0028] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration
and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and
not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and
modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the
scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention
covers further embodiments with any combination of features from
different embodiments described above and below.
[0029] The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing
description. For example, the use of the article "a" or "the" in
introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive
of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of "or" should
be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of "A
or B" is not exclusive of "A and B," unless it is clear from the
context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is
intended. Further, the recitation of "at least one of A, B and C"
should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements
consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as
requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C,
regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or
otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of "A, B and/or C" or "at least
one of A, B or C" should be interpreted as including any singular
entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the
listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B
and C.
* * * * *